…the Blog
This blog started as a record of some of my experiences, thoughts, ideas and opinions. At some point it evolved into my personal ranting space. These days I mostly link to/post articles and stories that I find interesting. Articles to which I link are mostly about economic anthropology, finance, Africa, political economy, and related subjects. And any other thing that catches my fancy. I also write the odd commentary whenever I am so moved.
… and the Blogger
My name is Olumide Abimbola. I have a BA in Communication from the University of Ibadan, and a Masters in Development Studies from Uppsala University. I wrote an economic anthropology PhD dissertation at the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology and Martin-Luther University, both in Halle/Saale, Germany. The dissertation is based on a one-year, multi-sited ethnographic study of the international trade in secondhand clothing.
I taught economic anthropology at the Martin-Luther University, Halle/Saale, Germany. I also edit the group blog, NigeriansTalk.
I currently work at the Regional Integration and Trade Division of the African Development Bank. I am also a research fellow with the research team Circuits of Value, Streams of Stuff at the University of Neuchâtel, and an Associate at the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology. My opinions never reflect those of my colleagues or the institutions I work for.
If you would like to know a little more about me check these interviews. For more of my writings, click.
To contact me, fill in the form on the Contact page.
hey olu,
what happened to your layout here? i liked the old one much better … but i am sure you have reasons for having changed it.
see you around,
j.
hey olu,
what happened to your layout here? i liked the old one much better … but i am sure you have reasons for having changed it.
see you around,
j.
Hello Olumide,
I believe we have a friend in common, Lucy N. You commented on my posting on the Material World blog last year. Just thought to say hello and greet you, as we seem to have similar interests, and even though these are evolving, they are still overlapping.
Hope your work in going well.
Julie
peace brotha olumide. i am just finishing up a phd in social anthro. nice to virtually connect. I research stuff in ghana and the african diaspora. im mostly into black radical thought (black nationalism, afrocentrism, pan-Africanism, etc.)….
any opinions on this recycled soap idea? frankly it sounds a little lame to me but you are the expert so i will defer to you :O)
http://www.ngonewsafrica.org/2009/10/hope-throu…
kzs
PS i have met karen tranberg hansen a few times.
PPS are you attending the american anthropological association meeting in december?
That’s an interesting topic! I am from the Philippines and here we call 2nd hand clothes stores “ukay-ukay” literally to dig through the piles of clothes looking for a find. People also say they shop at “U.K.” (sounds like ukay) to lend an air of sophistication to their 2nd hand purchase. The connotation being it’s from U.K. it’s expensive and of good quality.
Good luck to you!
What a choice of study. You must be a very interesting person.
My good friend, that’s great. I am sure you must have done a brilliant job. What an interesting topic you chose for your research. Okirika (fairly used or second hand) is still very much in vogue here. You know the funny thing happening here now with the okirika stuff? The sellers now mix it with cheap china product and make it look old like okirika. One of the reasons for this new development is the challenge faced in bringing it into the country through our borders considering the fact that it is contraband.
What I have also discovered is that people who buy Okirika don’t just buy it because it’s cheap but more because they believe it’s authentic and durable, in fact, some Okirika are much more expensive than the new products.The patronage has even increased now; the consumer psyche changed due to the huge number of substandard products out there in our market. As for those who are really trendy…it’s the best boutique to go to shop for expensive items at a more reasonable price and keep up with their class.
Till I hear from you friend, I say well-done and good luck
This is a wonderful topic i never thought of , brother a good one there.This secondhand clothings in my country Ghana virtually a large number of the population patronized it not because they are cheap but are original that you can not even get some in town,some are even more expensive than those in town,there are some which are just rubbish damped.Recently my country have been debating as to ban the importation of such stuff but the fact remains that it makes about a large sizable portion of trade in Africa. Big business as women and men engages in this as their full time practices,my wife is a good dealer in the stuff and you would not imagine the income supplement she bring to the house,it seems it will still remain with us but has to be regulated ,the income coming to the government is no small, is an economic venture. Type your comment here.